EU revises border-control checks on food imports from certain third countries
EU importers and border-control teams must apply the revised check frequencies and special conditions on the listed food imports from named third countries when the regulation takes effect
Change
On 9 June 2026, the European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1206, revising the official-control frequencies and special conditions on entry into the Union of listed food and feed from certain third countries under Regulation (EU) 2019/1793; new or increased checks apply to commodities from Argentina, Burkina Faso, Egypt, India, Sri Lanka and Syria, with reductions or removals for others. It enters into force 20 days after its 10 June 2026 publication.
Why it matters
The semi-annual Article 12 review replaces Annexes I and II of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 based on RASFF notifications and Member States' 2025 control data. Increased or newly added border checks: Argentina groundnuts (20%, aflatoxins), Burkina Faso aubergines (30%), Egypt sugar apple (30%), India cumin seeds (50%), Sri Lanka yardlong beans (50%) and Syria tahini/halva (50%, Salmonella). Eased or removed: India Capsicum aflatoxin entry deleted; India cinnamon moved to Annex I at 20% with its certificate requirement dropped; China xanthan gum cut to 10%; Indonesia nutmeg cut to 30%. India dried-spice entries are split by commodity and CN code. Importers of the affected commodity/origin pairs and border-control posts must apply the revised frequencies and conditions from entry into force.
Implications
- — EU importers of the newly added or increased-frequency commodity/origin pairs (e.g. Argentina groundnuts, Burkina Faso aubergines, Egypt sugar apple, India cumin seeds, Sri Lanka yardlong beans, Syria tahini and halva) must expect higher rates of identity and physical checks at border control posts and plan for the associated delays and sampling costs from entry into force.
- — Importers of commodities where controls are eased or removed (India Capsicum aflatoxin entry deleted; India cinnamon's per-consignment certificate requirement dropped; reduced check rates for China xanthan gum and Indonesia nutmeg) should update import procedures to reflect the lighter requirements, while continuing to meet remaining conditions.
- — Border-control and import-compliance teams must apply the replaced Annexes I and II — including the India dried-spice entries now split by commodity and CN code — when classifying consignments and determining check frequencies, or apply incorrect control levels.
Who is affected
- — EU importers of food and feed of non-animal origin from the listed third countries
- — Border-control posts and competent authorities performing entry checks
- — Import-compliance and customs-classification teams